Is there a planet visible in the sky during this month?

Answer 1

Jupiter is visible as a bright star in the south west at sunset. Mars is not visible this month. That bogus E-mail about Mars is making the rounds AGAIN this year. Mars was closer than any time in 60,000 year back in 2003, but it did not look as big as the Moon. It never does that.

Answer 2

Assuming no cloud cover, there are ALWAYS planets visible from Earth. [ Ed note. Once in every couple of hundred thousand years all the other planets orbits place them on the other side of the Sun, and so, at night, they are not visible. With special telescopes they are still visible during the day]

Regarding the Mars approach, I can appreciate the Internet. Nothing is ever thrown away. Just like my den. Man, I have to clean up this place. It is too bad they can't throw out 'NEWS' that is 3 years old.

Mars and Earth were the closest to each other that they get in 2003. It won't be for another 60,000 years that they are that close, but they do pass each other regularly.

Quote from Space.com: "On Aug. 27, (2003) at 5:51 a.m. ET (1051 GMT) Mars was less than 34.65 million miles (55.76 million kilometers) away -- closer than it’s been in 59,619 years. The show continues as Mars remains enticing through October, 2003."

People who don't understand that 2003 is PAST and that this even is OVER will only see the August 27 part and start raving about how close Mars will be.

;-D Get out the trusty ol' binoc's and have a look! Mars' orbital position is now on the OTHER SIDE OF THE SUN, going away from us... You can see it best on August 25th just after sunset. It will be near the crescent moon. It should make a lovely pic for APOD.

Answer 3

yes, Jupiter. It's the brightest "star" visible in the sky after sunset. Look to the west about 1/3 of the way up from the western horizon.


Venus is visible right before sunrise early in the morning. It will be the brightest star in the sky at that time as well, unless it is after sunrise.

If you mean is it visible every August? Then no, it isn't always visible in August. Just making sure :)

Clear Skies!

Answer 4

There are a number of our Solar Systems Planets that are visible to the naked eye at this season in the night skies. They include: Venus; Mars; Jupiter; Saturn and Mars. If you are in the United States for example, if you go outdoors JUST AFTER SUNSET while it is even yet "dusk" in the evening, go outside on a clear evening and face south. Directly above your head is what is known as your "Zenith". Now, facing south and knowing what your zenith is, if you look directly at your zenith and then trace your eyes slowly toward the south, only a few degrees from your zenith you will see "Jupiter" as the very first object to appear in the dusky evening light. Moreover, if you own a pair of binoculars of just about any strength, if you steady your arms and hands to be very "still" while looking at Jupiter through the binoculars, you will also "see" the four (4) largest of Jupiters Moons in a diagnal "line" appearing on both sides of the planet, or they may be all located upon only one side of the planet...or 3 on one side and the 4th on the other...all depending upon where the 4 largest moons are located in their orbits around the large planet. By the end of August and into the end of October, Mars will be reaching a magnitude (brightness) even outshing Jupiter...and will appear as a bright, red star in the night skies. Mars at that time will be "rising" in the east just after sunset, and blazing brightly high overhead (near your zenith) about 4 hours after Sunset...and you cannot mistake it because it will outshine all other objects in the night skies (not including the Moon) and will have a very noticable "red-tint" to it. There is a foolish "rumor" going around that "Mars" will be AS LARGE as the FULL MOON during late August and early October because the planet will be closer to the Earth than it has been in the past 5,000 years. But that is ridiculous. It will undoubtfully outshine everything else in the night skies...but certainly not as large as the "full moon". I know these things to be factual because I am a Professional Astronomer who lives on the grounds of the Lowell Observatory.

Answer 5

bare Eye Planets in basic terms after sundown: Venus Jupiter the two could have been very vivid in the west, Venus the brighter one farther west, Jupiter the fainter one nearer to the southwest, yet the two could nevertheless be brighter than any of the celebs. different planets (seen in telescopes) Pluto, west of Venus and better in the sky, yet undetecable and not utilising a extensive telescope. Neptune, virtually due south on the time you specific, approximately halfway between the southern horizon and your zenith. Uranus (technically a bare eye merchandise below suitable viewing circumstances) could be slightly west of Neptune, yet nevertheless not something spectecular till you have a extensive scope. The moon does not have risen yet for extra or less yet another 9 or 10 hours on those nights, and grew to become into closest to Saturn (in the tail of Leo) in the east till now break of day.

Answer 6

Attention all people: Just to make things clear. Mars is 56,000,000 Km away from the earth. Its no big deal. That email is a hoax, and everyone on Yahoo Answers that says its true is wrong. Thank you.

**********IF YOU BELEIVE THIS HOAX, PREPARE TO DIE BECAUSE MARS IS GOING TO COLLIDE WITH THE EARTH!! BUT NOT BEFORE CAUSING MAJOR TIDAL WAVES, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF FEET TALL AND STORMS THAT CAN EVAPORATE A CITY! PANIC! OMFG PANIC! THE WORLD IS COMMING TO AN END! AHHHHH! NOT EVEN GOD CAN HELP US NOW! START RIOTS! LOOT! KILL! OMFG WERE GONNA DIEEEEE! THIS IS THE END! OMEGA! EVERYONE STAY UP LATE WORRYING ABOUT IT, EAT LESS, AND GET SICK OVER THE FACT THAT WERE ALL DEAD!!!! OH THE HUMANITY!**********

Answer 7

Yes, several....including Mars. The Red Planet (Mars) is at its closest approach to earth in many millenia.

Answer 8

Do y'all remember seeing the comet about 8 yrs ago where you could see the tail behind it. Seen old pic like it from mid ages. A big one real close would be cool

Answer 9

jupiter and venus mars got it's closest approch in 2003 and will not be closer until 5003 agust 27

Answer 10

my friend said that mars should be clearly visible on August 27th.